But what if someone kills somebody else?"Gurgeh shrugged. "They're slap-droned.""Ah! This sounds more like it. What does that drone do?""Follows you around and makes sure you never do it again.""Is that all?""What more do you want? Social death, Hamin; you don't get invited to too many parties.""Ah; but in your Culture, can't you gatecrash?""I suppose so," Gurgeh conceded. "But nobody'd talk to you.
In this excerpt from "The Player of Games" by Iain M. Banks, a conversation highlights the cultural perspective on punishment in a society where a person who commits murder is subjected to a "slap-drone." This drone continually monitors the individual to prevent future offenses. The discussion reveals a misconception about the severity of this punishment, as one character questions the drone's effectiveness and implication on social status.
Gurgeh acknowledges that social death follows the punishment, implying that the individual becomes socially ostracized and cannot easily reintegrate into society. Although he suggests that one could attempt to regain social access by gatecrashing events, it is clear that the stigma of being monitored by the slap-drone would lead to isolation, as others would avoid interacting with them. This exchange underscores the complexities of justice and social acceptance in their culture.
